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| Biology | 
 enlarge | Authors: Neil A. Campbell, Jane B. Reece
Publisher: Benjamin Cummings
Category: Book
List Price: $169.00
Buy Used: $40.50
You Save: $128.50 (76%)
New (88) Used (852) from $40.50
Avg. Customer Rating:  54 reviews
Sales Rank: 145
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 7th
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 1312
Shipping Weight (lbs): 7.2
Dimensions (in): 11.1 x 9.3 x 1.8
ISBN: 080537146X
Dewey Decimal Number: 570
EAN: 9780805371468
ASIN: 080537146X
Publication Date: December 23, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: PROMPT SHIPPING (USPS TRACKING)/GREAT VALUE!! Very usable text - good price/value., contains some highlighting, stickers inside cover, hardcover shows some wear, INCLUDES CD
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Product Description
Neil Campbell and Jane Reece's BIOLOGY remains unsurpassed as the most successful majors biology textbook in the world. This text has invited more than 4 million students into the study of this dynamic and essential discipline.The authors have restructured each chapter around a conceptual framework of five or six big ideas. An Overview draws students in and sets the stage for the rest of the chapter, each numbered Concept Head announces the beginning of a new concept, and Concept Check questions at the end of each chapter encourage students to assess their mastery of a given concept. New Inquiry Figures focus students on the experimental process, and new Research Method Figures illustrate important techniques in biology. Each chapter ends with a Scientific Inquiry Question that asks students to apply scientific investigation skills to the content of the chapter.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 49 more reviews...
 Impressive depth of explanation August 1, 2005
101 out of 105 found this review helpful
I'm working through an earlier edition of this book (because it was used and cheap) and am very impressed by it. There are a lot of excellent introductory science textbooks, but what distinguishes this one in my mind is the author's relentless effort to deepen his explanations. You don't just learn that some reaction occurs in the cell. You learn why it occurs, what its antecedents are, what their antecedents are, how feedback reactions in the cell stimulate or inhibit the reaction, and what the mechanisms of action are. At each point where the reader may be thinking, "That's interesting, but why does that happen?", all he need do is read on and very likely find that Campbell will ask, and answer, his question.
Explanation must always come to a stop. But Campbell pushes his explanations out to the frontiers of our knowledge. His explanations stop not where he thinks the student is too unsophisticated to continue, but where either there is no more known, or where it would be impossible to say more and still cover the whole subject of biology in one book.
This approach shows great respect for the student. It treats the student as an intelligent person who is interested, motivated, and able to learn. It is the standard approach for more advanced texts, but it's not always found in introductory books. It's a considerable achievement to be able to write about a highly technical subject this deeply and this thoroughly, and still put it in terms that the beginning student can understand.
The book is also very well produced. There are excellent illustrations, a useful glossary, an index, and many photo-micrographs. Even in the illustrations, Campbell treats the reader as a serious student - providing thorough explanations and labeling each microscope photo to indicate how it was made (light, scanning electrons, transmissive electrons). I can't say what's on the CD ROM because I haven't seen it. But if it's as good as the rest of the visual material, it will be very good indeed.
I heartily recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn the science of Biology.
 The standard by which biology majors' texts are gauged March 21, 2006
37 out of 39 found this review helpful
Campbell's Biology has been the standard biology text for majors for many years. Though there are many good competitors, this is the one that consistently seems to rise to the top.
The breadth of coverage is good overall, with particular strengths in cell, molecular, and physiology sections of the text. It's the one we chose to use in our year-long intro to biology majors course.
Not everything is roses, however. For one thing, compared to other sections of the text the section on animal diversity is brief (perhaps unavoidably so)...after all, no book can be all things to all people. The section on ecology is also a bit light compared to other sections of the text. That's not surprising, since many intro courses these days don't touch much on ecology...more's the pitty.
The two biggest challenges associated with this book are it's mass, and massive price tag (not unique among textbooks today). I have a difficult time sitting in a reading chair and getting into a comfortable position with this block of paper on my lap or in my hands. It is, as mentioned in at least one other review, just too heavy. The other challenge is the cost. That's an issue with many textbooks today. They are just so expensive that you almost need to take out a loan just to get your books.
Is there a way to get this book in an e-version, so I could load it onto a notebook computer? At least that way the book would be in a computer that would probably weigh less...
There are pros and cons. The pros seem to outweigh the cons for the moment.
One concern I have for the future of this text is that Campbell, the senior author, passed away recently. We'll have to wait and see if subsequent editions are able to maintain the scope and quality of coverage that this and previous editions were able to manage.
5 stars for quality, minus one for weight and cost. 4 stars.
Alan Holyoak (Biol Prof)
Must for all Bio students October 1, 2005
34 out of 39 found this review helpful
My school UC Davis uses this book and gosh, the book is perfect after all in explaining the principles and concepts of biology. We only covered first 20 chapters in one quarter but by looking at how the book is outlined and written, I can see that the rest of the book will be great. I did not stumble much in reading and figures makes the subject much easier to digest. Oh, the CD that came with book is soooo helpful for the midterms. Not only does it check your reading, but also it quizzes your thinking process involved with the chapter concept.
The only drawback i see is that the book can be heavy and expensive. Other than that, all the biology books I have ever read so far, this is simply the BEST...
 buy 6th July 18, 2006
25 out of 26 found this review helpful
Unless your professor requires that you use this edition (which they shouldn't), buy the 6th edition, which is cheaper. The only difference between the two is slight text changes and rearrangements of the chapters. It's not worth your money unless you are drawn to this edition (trust me, you're not). Oh, and the study guides aren't worth it if you actually go to class and read the text.
The New Standard January 28, 2005
24 out of 25 found this review helpful
The Campbell Biology texts have always been the premier general bio science text, and the 7th edition sets a new standard. Improvements over previous editions include an excellent prep section for the AP Bio test, new organization, much better graphics and pictures, and an absolutely incredible CD resource. Any interest in biology at any level demands this book. Highly recommended.
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